Recent Happy Bong Shoppers

Things to consider before buying a bong or water pipe:

Flowers or concentrate? If you're a dry herb enthusiast, you'll want a bowl; dabbers need a nail to get lifted. If you're into both, consider a piece with an unattached downstem to adapt to all that the good plant has to offer. If you're looking for glass for dabbing; shop our dab rigs.

Size matters. Glass bongs come in 10mm, 14mm, or 18mm joint sizes. Not *those* joints; we're talking the glass pieces that connect the various parts of the pipe, and to make things more interesting, glass joints can be either male or female. Add in the many types of percolators, and the permutations for your new pipe are endless!

Types of Bongs

From straightforward scientific styles such as the classic beaker bongs to elaborate functionals like recyclers with propellor percolators, Smoke Cartel has an excellent selection of water pipes. Shop by perc or size to find the pipe of your dreams!

Beaker Bongs

It's all 'bout that base. Beaker bongs are a classic water pipe with a wide bottom that offer increased stability and a smooth smoke. Bongs in the beaker style tend to be sturdier than their straight tube counterparts, making them less likely to be knocked off the coffee table by the cat.

Another advantage of beakers is that they hold more water and more smoke in the base, allowing for larger, grander hits.

Straight Tubes

For buyers looking for a simpler or more traditional look, straight tubes and beaker base water pipes are the way to go. Not only will these designs be easier for beginners to master, but some styles also offer versatility in separate parts and accessories. Water pipes with removable downstems allow you to switch this part with a dabbing nail or another accessory to use with other substances. Just remember to purchase an accessory that fits your water pipe joint size and shape. Straight tube water pipes will hold less water than beaker base pipes, but many users prefer the lighter weight and style.

Bubble Base Bongs

The bubble base style of bong was popularized around the 1970s, and is a familiar look to many. These water pipes either often come with a pedestal base, or sits directly at the flattened end of the bubble base. An iconic look that offers good versatility and ease of maintenance with it's no frills look.

Recyclers

For an extra smooth hit, buyers tend to lean toward recyclers. These water pipes filter the water carrying the vapor up through a chamber close to the mouthpiece, release the vapor for the user to inhale, and dump the water back down to the base to be “recycled” again. This allows for the vapor to cool off in the water for longer and brings the vapor closer to the mouthpiece than other pipes permit.

Recyclers tend to work with concentrates the best, but can also be used with flower and herb. These pieces may look daunting, but they are fairly simple once the user familiarizes themselves with all of the parts.

Something Unique

A beautiful piece of glass art, your bong, is like a treasured friend. We offer many unique pieces here at Smoke Cartel, and know you can find the perfect themed bong to show off your style. We look far and wide to find you the coolest bongs in the world. That's what makes our online headshop - so unique.

In addition, check out our heady glass - we source one of a kind artisan glass pieces from glassblowers across the United States. More for style than added function, any user is bound to find an elaborate water pipe to demonstrate their unique personality.

Features of a Bong

Downstem

Downstems are an essential component of water pipes. If your water pipe features a removable downstem, it’s probably a diffused downstem. These include tiny slits or holes to break up the smoke before it enters the water. The more bubbles that are created by the downstem, the more surface area the vapor has to cool before it enters the tube for inhalation. If your downstem is non-removable, your water pipe will probably include a type of percolator. There are many percolators on the market, such as showerhead percolators or honeycomb percolators, and you may need to experiment to find the one you like the best.

Ice Pinch

Some water pipes include an ice pinch as part of their tube design, which give users an extra layer of cooling before the vapor reaches the mouthpiece. The pinch holds the ice in the tube part of the pipe so you get the best cooling effect before inhalation. Some people prefer inhaling warm vapor; but if you’re a cool vapor person, an ice pinch will be a necessary pipe feature.

Splash Guard

Splash guards are handy in preventing the water from the base of the pipe reaching your lips as you inhale. The splash guard includes slits so vapor can still pass through, but the top is domed so the water falls back into the base of the pipe.

Bong Accessories

Extra Downstems

A bong without a downstem is just a bottle with a hole. Pretty useless, right? A downstem is an essential glass piece that fits into a water pipe joint. Basically it makes it all happen.

Downstems function to carry smoke from the slide (or bowl piece) into the water chamber of your glass pipe to filter and cool each hit. Downstems are available in a variety of different sizes and lengths, so it is absolutely essential to know what you need before purchasing one.

Ashcatchers

Ash catchers are attachments for bongs that offer extra filtration. Ash catchers are available in many different shapes, sizes, and styles with a huge variety of different percolators.

These attachments enable even the most relaxed smokers to keep their favorite bongs and daily drivers significantly cleaner. They work as a vessel to catch nasty residues and other debris, leading to bigger and better tasting rips from your trusty water bong.

Bowls

A bowl (also known as a slide) is an essential part of every bong. Bowls are empty chambers for loose leaf dry herb or tobacco, which, once packed, attach to the joint of your glass piece. You light a heat source, and the hot air pulled through the bowl ignites the herb and creates smoke through your bong.

Bowls come in a variety of different sizes (10mm, 14mm, and 18mm) and can be either male or female. Knowing the joint size and gender of your water pipe is essential when purchasing a new slide, otherwise you may end up with a new bowl that is not compatible with your bong.

Glass Guard - Exclusively at Smoke Cartel

Add our GlassGuard warranty program on eligible bongs and we'll insure your purchase against future breakages. Remember, glass is fragile. If you break this glass bong, your next one is 50% off!

If you're insured by GlassGuard and have an accident, send Smoke Cartel a photograph of your broken piece. We'll let you choose between the following options: 50% off the exact same item, or a credit worth 50% of the original value of your glass to be used towards the purchase of a new piece of equal or greater value (at the time of purchase).

Glass Guard Protection

Do not fear breaking your glass!

Add our GlassGuard warranty program on eligible items and we'll insure this purchase. If you break this product, your next one is 50% off!

If you're insured by GlassGuard and have an accident, send Smoke Cartel a photograph of your broken piece. We'll let you choose between the following options:
50% off the exact same item, or a credit worth 50% of the original value of your glass to be used towards the purchase of a new piece of equal or greater value (at the time of purchase).